New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill Faces Heavy Backlash for Defying White House Half-Staff Directive for Lindsey Graham

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, A brewing political firestorm is sweeping through Trenton. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is facing severe criticism from state lawmakers after state records revealed New Jersey flagpoles remained at full-staff, directly defying a White House proclamation ordering U.S. flags to fly at half-staff nationwide in honor of the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

The directive, issued following Graham’s passing, requested flags remain lowered through Saturday evening. However, New Jersey’s official flag status website stubbornly indicated “all flags full-staff,” drawing immediate ire from local leaders.

“The Most Political Governor”

New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Boonton) did not hold back his frustration, blasting the newly minted administration’s decision.

“This is probably the most political [Trenton administration], and she’s only been there six months — probably the most political governor I’ve served with in the last 25 years,” Pennacchio told Fox News Digital.

Pennacchio noted that he had sent a formal, respectful request to the governor’s office earlier in the week to lower the flags, emphasizing that honoring a decades-long public servant and U.S. Air Force veteran should entirely transcend partisan lines. Gov. Sherrill, who is also a veteran, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

A Stark Contrast with Other Prominent Democrats

Sherrill appears to be part of a small handful of Democratic state executives—including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger—who chose not to issue half-staff orders.

In contrast, neighboring Democratic governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Matt Meyer of Delaware fully complied with the White House order, as did leaders in California, Maryland, and Colorado.

The move also created a stark divide within New Jersey’s own Democratic ranks. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) publicly put politics aside to record a moving tribute video honoring Graham. Booker shared lighthearted memories of collaborating with the South Carolina conservative to ultimately cross the aisle and pass the historic First Step Act.

“Senator Booker is as partisan as they come, but he did the right thing and put his partisanship aside,” Pennacchio added. “The death of one diminishes a little bit of all of us.”

Bipartisan Legacy Remembered

As the political standoff continues in Trenton, other New Jersey representatives focused their statements on Graham’s legacy. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), the state’s longest-serving congressman, remembered the late senator as a “courageous fighter for the right to life, human rights, liberty and freedom” who brought “incisive candor and humor to debate.”

President Donald Trump also paid tribute to the late senator earlier in the week, calling him a “fantastic man” and a “great politician.”

With flag status data drawing national eyes to the Garden State, local lawmakers continue to argue that respect for late public servants shouldn’t stop at state lines. “Our nation has long understood that when a public servant passes away after a lifetime of service… we come together,” Pennacchio stated. “New Jersey should not be the exception.”

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